The Vigil

from Romans 3:28

Today’s scroll, one verse at a time — each linked to the last by the cross-references rather than by any model of you. The same vigil for everyone, and a different one tomorrow.

a thread opens

Romans 3:28

Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law.

James 2:21

Was not Abraham our father justified by works, when he had offered Isaac his son upon the altar?

from James 2:24

Genesis 22:16

And said, By myself have I sworn, says the LORD, for because you have done this thing, and have not withheld your son, your only son:

from James 2:21 · a strong link

Genesis 12:2

And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you, and make your name great; and you shall be a blessing:

from Genesis 22:16

Genesis 24:35

And the LORD has blessed my master greatly; and he has become great: and he has given him flocks, and herds, and silver, and gold, and menservants, and maidservants, and camels, and donkeys.

from Genesis 12:2


a thread opens

I Corinthians 8:4

As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice to idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.

Isaiah 41:29

Look, they are all vanity; their works are nothing: their cast images are wind and confusion.

from Isaiah 41:24

Jeremiah 5:13

And the prophets shall become wind, and the word is not in them: thus shall it be done to them.

from Isaiah 41:29

Jeremiah 14:15

Therefore thus says the LORD concerning the prophets that prophesy in my name, and I sent them not, yet they say, Sword and famine shall not be in this land; By sword and famine shall those prophets be consumed.

from Jeremiah 5:13


a thread opens

I John 3:16

By this we perceive the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brothers.

Romans 5:8

But God commends his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

from I John 3:16 · a strong link

Romans 5:6

For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

from Romans 5:8 · a strong link

I Peter 1:20

Who truly was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you,

from Romans 5:6


a thread opens

I John 2:27

But the anointing which you have received of him remains in you, and you need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teaches you of all things, and is truth, and is no lie, and even as it has taught you, you shall remain in him.

I Peter 1:23

Being born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, by the word of God, which lives and remains for ever.

from I John 2:27

John 1:13

Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

from I Peter 1:23 · a strong link

I John 4:7

Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loves is born of God, and knows God.

from John 1:13

I John 2:29

If you know that he is righteous, you know that every one that does righteousness is born of him.

from I John 4:7 · a strong link

I John 5:1

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loves the Father loves whoever has been born of him.

from I John 2:29 · a strong link

John 1:12

But as many as received him, to them he gave power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:

from I John 5:1 · a strong link


a thread opens

I Corinthians 12:28

And God has set some in the church, first apostles, secondarily prophets, thirdly teachers, after that miracles, then gifts of healings, helps, governments, varieties of tongues.

Acts 4:11

This is the stone which was set at nothing of you builders, which has become the cornerstone.

from Ephesians 2:20

Exodus 11:8

And all these your servants shall come down to me, and bow down themselves to me, saying, Get you out, and all the people that follow you: and after that I will go out. And he went out from Pharaoh in a great anger.

from Proverbs 28:1

Exodus 12:31

And he called for Moses and Aaron by night, and said, Rise up, and get you forth from among my people, both you and the children of Israel; and go, serve the LORD, as you have said.

from Exodus 11:8


a thread opens

I Chronicles 29:17

I know also, my God, that you try the heart, and have pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of my heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy your people, who are present here, to offer willingly to you.

I Chronicles 28:9

And you, Solomon my son, know you the God of your father, and serve him with a perfect heart and with a willing mind: for the LORD searches all hearts, and understands all the imaginations of the thoughts: if you seek him, he will be found of you; but if you forsake him, he will cast you off for ever.

from I Chronicles 29:17 · a strong link

II Kings 20:3

I beg you, O LORD, remember now how I have walked before you in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in your sight. And Hezekiah wept sore.

from I Chronicles 28:9 · a strong link

I Kings 8:61

Let your heart therefore be blameless before the Lord our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.

from II Kings 20:3

I Kings 15:3

And he walked in all the sins of his father, which he had done before him: and his heart was not blameless before the Lord his God, as the heart of David his father.

from I Kings 8:61


a thread opens

I Corinthians 5:7

Clean out therefore the old leaven, so that you may be a new lump, as you are unleavened. For even Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us:

Exodus 12:5

Your lamb shall be without blemish, a male of the first year: you shall take it out from the sheep, or from the goats:

from I Corinthians 5:7

Leviticus 23:12

And you shall offer that day when you wave the sheaf a he lamb without blemish of the first year for a burnt offering to the LORD.

from Exodus 12:5

Leviticus 1:10

And if his offering is of the flocks, namely, of the sheep, or of the goats, for a burnt sacrifice; he shall bring it a male without blemish.

from Leviticus 23:12

That is the whole thread.

Every verse the cross-references reach from Romans 3:28 along this chain. Today’s own vigil is laid separately.

Each verse follows the one before it along the chain a study Bible draws — a century old, public, and compiled by people arguing about Scripture rather than about how long you stay. Every card says which verse it came from and opens the chapter it belongs to. Today’s vigil is the same for every reader and is worked out from the date alone, so there is no account, no counter, and nothing stored in your browser or ours.

The text is the Lantern Modern Standard. The links are openbible.info’s cross-reference set (CC BY), the same apparatus behind the reader’s Echoes drawer. Read a whole book · Today’s table